Thank You!

Are you sending boring, generic emails that look just like the past 100 your prospects have gotten from reps? Or are you trying to stand out from the crowd?

How Humor Can Make Sales Emails More Effective

When it comes to sales emails, a little levity goes a long way. Most messages are straightforward and serious -- and boring. Adding a fun twist to their outreach helps reps distinguish themselves from the competition and make their pitch more memorable.

In addition, humor usually puts recipients in a better mood. Once their prospects are smiling, salespeople usually have a far better shot of getting time on their calendars.

That being said, no gimmick can make up for a bad sales process. If reps aren't capable of asking probing questions, diagnosing their prospect's needs, consistently adding value throughout the conversation, tailoring their pitch to the individual buyer's situation, and surfacing urgency, an attention-grabbing email will make zero difference to their bottom line.

Salespeople can leverage the same trust-building effects by including a cartoon in their outreach email.

[Prospect name], are you struggling with [challenge]?

Hi [prospect name],

Some salespeople are all about how you can help them ...

But I’m interested in your objectives. In working with similar companies [in X industry or vertical/of similar size in X region], I’ve found many struggle with [major business challenge].

If this is something you’re challenged with as well, have you considered [strategy/tip]? I have some other ideas that might help too.

Best,

[Your name]

2) The response to “we’re all set” or “no thanks”:

Hearing this standard objection doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no opportunity. Use this template to make buyers think twice about brushing you off. If they’re truly not in a position to buy, they’ll remember you when the timing is better. And if they are a good fit, disarming them with a funny meme will likely lead them to think, “Hmm, this doesn’t seem like the average salesperson. Maybe I should give them a chance after all.”

4) The clever email

Walking around the conference floor isn't usually the most scintillating activity in the world. Use this template to provoke your prospect's curiosity and make a conversation with you seem more fun than the typical booth chat. Even if they don't respond, they're likelier to stop by when they see your company's name.

Cheer [salesperson] up at [conference]?

Hey [prospect name],

Saw you were involved with [organization]. I'm curious if you're going to the [conference]? We'd love to meet up with your team. I know one guy on my team would especially love to meet up:

Want to book a quick side meeting or swap some text and meet up at our booth?

[Your name] a.k.a. [nickname] (this will make sense when you come to the booth)

8) The Fun Friday email

No matter where you work, the office feels different on Friday. Everyone's a little more relaxed and a little less uptight. Take advantage of the laidback mood, and shoot your prospect a Friday-themed message that won't hurt their ears.

It's Friday

Hi [prospect name],

I bet the subject line made you think there'd be a Rebecca Black gif or video inside this email. But I wouldn't do that to you.

The real reason I'm reaching out is to ask about your strategy for X [in 2018, next quarter, in response to Y trigger event]. I have a few suggestions I'd be happy to talk through -- after the weekend, of course. Are you free on Monday next week?

Thanks,

[Your name]

9) The cheerful email

Does your prospect seem like they'd be responsive to a little cheer? Send them this upbeat email.

Life is good

Hi [prospect name],

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you know exactly how to [solve X likely pain point, respond to Y trigger event, hit Z objective]. Right?

If you're still working on that last one -- which I know is a focus for many [description of company profile] right now -- I'd love to offer some of the strategies I've shared with [customer #1] and [customer #2]. My calendar is available here: [Meetings link]. I hope to speak with you soon!

Cheers,

[Your name]

Not every buyer will be responsive to a humorous or offbeat email. Before sending one of these templates to your prospect, consider what you know about their personality and preferences from previous interactions or their social media accounts. If they seem more conservative or buttoned-up than your average buyer, a more traditional sales email might be wise.

But as CEO of Sales Hacker Max Altuscher says, “Don't be overly cautious. For the most part, if a prospect is just not answering you no matter what you do, sending a funny message is a great last-ditch effort.”